Electrical switching system



May 25 1926. I 1,586,333

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM Filed March 28, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N VEN TOR A TTORNE Y May 25 1926. 1,586,333

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM Filed March 28, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 N VEN TOR 25A ATTORNEY May 25,1926.

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM Filed March 28, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

ENT MAGNET:

'fmiim m .4 TTORNEY May 25 1926. 1,586,333

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 28, 1922 INVENTOR YM-MAM wim A TTORNE Y 15 in the production of oxygen and hydrogen Patented May 25, 1 926.

nrrro s'rr 135 i WILLIAM m. scorr, or rnnmrrrnm rownsmr, ones'rnn coun'r'r, rnnn srrvama.

ELECTRIGAL SWITCHING SYSTEM.

Application filed March 28, 1922. Serial N0. 547,480.

' My invention relates to an electrical switching system comprisin swltchlng or circuit breaker mechanism ormlng a connection between a source of current and a consumption circuit or translating dev ce,

the switching or circuit breaker mechanism providing protection against underload or reversed current, overload orexcess current,

' novoltage, and reversal of polarity or volt age;

My invention resides in a system or mechanism of the character referred to, part1cularly when the translating device is of the electrolytic type, such as may be employed by electrolysis, wherein the protective means comprise automatic circuit breaker mechanism, more particularly double arm oncuit breaker mechanism, tripped or controlled by or in response to underload or reverse current iioW, reversal of polarity or voltage, no voltage, and overload or excess current.

My invention resides further m a system 501 apparatus of the character referred to wherein the underload or reverse current tripping means comprisescurrent or serles and voltage or shunt windlngs otwhlch the voltage or shunt winding is electrlcally connee-ted in series with the no voltage coil and the voltage or shunt coil or coils of the trapping mechanism responsive to reversal of polarity or voltage.

My invention resides in a system and apparatus of the character hereinafter described and claimed. a

For an illustration of one of various forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawlngs, in

which: v

Fig. 1 is a front elevational vlew of 01rcuit breaker mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view, on larger scale, of a portion of the tripping mecha- 'nism.-

Fig. 3 is an end elevational-view of structure shown in Fig. 2.

.Fig. 4 is an elevation, as viewed from the right of Fig. 1, of the right hand arm or breaker unit of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, plan and end views of one of the tripping members of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 7'is a bottom plan View of a portion Y vational and bottom of the tripping mechanism of the right hand arm or breaker unit ofFig. 1-.

Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, front and i 7. r ig. 10 is a tra mentary' elevation, viewed from the left in ig. 1, of part of the tripside elevations of the mechanism'shown .in 1.

ping mechanism of the right hand arm or I breaker unit of Fig. 1.

Figs. 11 and 12 are, respectively, front elevational and bottom plan structure shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevatiomviewed views of the ping mechanism of the left hand arm or breaker unit of Fig. 1.

Figs. 1a and 15 are, respectively, front eleplan views of structure shown 1n F 1g. 13.

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of art of the tripping mechanism shown in igs. 13 and 14:.

Figs. 17 and 18 are, respectively, side and from the left in Fig. 1, of part of the tripfront elevational views of the no-voltage tripping mechanism. ig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of one of various circuit arrangements in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 20 isa diagrammatic view of a moditied circuit arrangement in accordance with my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and i, the circuit breaker mechanism comprises two circuit breaker arms A and B constituting a socalled double arm circuit breaker having independently movable arms with means for locking each arm and means for tripping either or both arms.

Each of the circuit breaker arms A and B comprises stationary terminals, a co-acting movable contact member for connecting those terminals, and mechanism for operating and locking the movable contact mem- The switch structure of each arm may be of any suitable ty e or character; in the example illustrate n-isms are similar, and a descriptionof one of them, as of the arm or breaker unit B, will in a general Way suiiice for both.

' Referring to Figs. 1 and {1, the switch or breaker unit or arm B comprises the main terminal blocks 1 and 2, secured upon a base" 3 of insulating material, as slate,

Ltd

the switching mechamarble. etc. The movable contact member 4. as a laminated bridging member, is adapted to engage and bridge the terminals 1 and 2 and 1s carriedby an arm 5 pivoted at 6 to a bracket or housing 7 secured upon the base 3. Pivoted at 8 to the houslng 7 is the operating handle or lever 9, having an operators handle 10. Integral wlth the operating lever 9 is an extension 11 constituting a tog le link pivoted at 12 to a companion togge link 13 pivoted at 14 to the arm 5, the toggle being undertravelled when the parts are in the circuit closing position indicated in Fig. 4. The contact member 4 is held in circuit closing position indicated by engagement of the latch 15, pivoted at 16 to the housing 7, with a roller 17 carried by the operating lever 9, a sprin not shown, biasing the left end of the late 15, as viewed in Fig. 4, upwardly. Pivoted concentrically with the latch 15 at 16 is the latch actuator 18 adapted to engage the upper side of the latch 15 to disengage it from the roller 17 and member 9.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 4, 10, 11 and 12, the underload or reverse current tripping means, associated with the arm or pole B, comprises the series or current coil 19 surrounding the magnetizable core 20, which is also surrounded by the voltage or shunt coil or winding 21.

The core 20 is provided with pole pieces 22,

with which co-acts the armature 23 pivoted at 24. approach of the armature 23 to the poles 22 being opposed by the spring-pressed plungers 25. Secured to the armature 23 is the member 26 having a. recess embracing the end of the crank or lever 27 pivoted at 16 and integral with the cam member 28 having the cam surface 29. Secured to the latch actuator 18 by screw 30 is the member 31, pivoted at 16, disposed below and in the path of travel of the cam member 28, whereby, when the cumulative ma etizing effect of the coils 19 and 21 upon t e armature 23 diminishes to a predetermined value, the plungers 25 force the armature 23 away from the poles 22, causing the member 26 to rotate the member 27 and cam member 28 in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 9. The member 28, after slight lost motion, strikes a blow upon the member 31, the blow being communicated through the latch actuator 18 to the latch 15 to release the member 9 and trip the breaker, whereupon the contact member 4 separates from the terminals 1 and 2, to open the circuit.

Pivoted to the arm 9 concentric with the roller 17 is the dog or pawl 32, Figs. 2 and 3, which is limited as to its counterclockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 3, by the stop 33 engaging the operating lever 9, and is free to rotate in clockwise direction. The pawl 32 co-acts with the member 34 pivtuator 18, whereby when the latch actuator 18 is actuated upon release of the armature 23,.the pin 39 moves downwardly in the .slot 38, without effect upon the member 34,

but when member 34 is actuated in counterclockwise directiun, as viewed in Fig. 3, by the bar 40, as hereinafter described, the top of slot 38 engages the pin 39 and rotates the latch actuator 18 incounterclockwise direction, causing actuation of the latch 15 to trip the arm or breaker unit B, if closed. The bar 40 is rotatable about an axis concentric with the aforesaid pivot 16 and a concentric pivot 16 in the housin 7 -of the left hand arm or breaker unit The arm 40 is in two sections 40 and 40, mechanically connected but insulated from each other by the insulating member 41. The section 40 is secured at 42 to the latch actuator 18, pivoted at 16 and having the tail 18 disposed in the path of travel of the mem ber 43 pivoted at 44, Fig. 13, and carrying the armature 45 co-actin with the poles 46 of a U-shaped magnetizable member em bracing the lower terminal block 47 of the left hand arm or breaker B, whereby when the current attains a predetermined magnitude, as in the case of overload or excess current, the armature is attracted, causing the member 43 to actuate the latch actuator 18, which then actuates the latch 15 to release the roller 17 on the operating lever 9 of the left hand arm or breaker unit A, which comprises the aforesaid terminal 47 and the upper main terminal block 48 adapted to be bridged by the laminated bridging member 49 carried by an arm 5 pivoted to the housing 7 and actuated by the toggle links 13 and 11, pivoted to each other at 12.

As indicated in Figs. 13, 14 and 16, there is secured to the latch actuator 18" and to the bar section 40 the member 50, pivoted on 16 and having the arm 51 disposed in the ath of travel of the member 52 secured to the pivoted armature structure of the electro-magnetic means responsive to reversal of voltage or polarity. This armature structure is pivoted at 53, 53 and comprises an assembly of U-shaped permanent magnet laminae 54 terminating in soft iron pole pieces 55 above and below which are disposed the horizontal iron cores or magnetiza 1e members 56 and 57, upon which are disposed, respectively, the voltage or shunt magnetizing coils 58 and 59. The ends of poles of the cores 56 and 57 have fiat inclined faces 60 and 61 spaced from the pole pieces 55 of the permanent magnet armadill ture s stem, and between these pole faces an 61 the pole pieces 55 are movable upon the pivots 53. Extending upwardly through the pole ends of the core 57 are the plunger-s 62, 62 pressed upwardly by springs63 disposed in cups or sockets 64, 64, whereby normally or-when there is no excitation the poles 55 of the armature structure are disposed approximately mid-way between the pole faces 60 and 61. The coils 58 and 59 are wound in such direction or so connected that when they are energized the poles of the core 57 attract the pole pieces 55, polarized in suitable senceby the permanent magnet elements 54:, drawing the pole pieces downwardly in oppos1t10n to the plungers 62 and their springs 63, and at the same time the poles of the core 54 repel the pole pieces 55. Upon reversal of voltage or polarity of the circuit or system in which the coils 58 and 59 are connected, the poles of the cores 56 and 57 reverse in polarity, with the result that the poles of the core 57 now repel the pole pieces 55 of the armature structure, and the poles of the core 56 attract them, and in addition the spr ngs 63 force the plungers 62 u wardly, assisting the repulsion and attraction exerted, respec tively, by the cores 57 and 56, causing the armature structure to move upon its pivotal axis and cause the member 50 to engage "member 51 and rotate it in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, thereby rotating the latch actuator 18 and the latch actuator 18 or the arm or unit B through the bar sections 40 and 40 causing actuation of the latches 15 and 15 to release the arms 9 and 9 and thereby causing tripping of both arms A and B, it both be closed.

Referring to Figs. 1 l7 and 18, a novoltage coil 65 is disposed upon the core 66 having pole pieces 6 67, on one of which there is pivoted at 68 the armature 69, whose other end coacts with the other pole piece 67 in a socket in which is disposed a spring 70 thrusting the plunger 71 outwardly against the armature 67, tending to rotate it in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 17, a' stop 7 2 serving to limit such rotation. Pivoted to the armature 69 at 73 is the link or bar 74 pivoted at 75 to the member 76 clamped to the bar section 40.

\Vhen the winding 65 is energized, the armature 69 is attracted in op'position to spring 70 and plunger 71. On substantial decrease in voltage or absence of voltage the attraction upon the armature 69 diminishes or vanishes, and the spring 70 forces the armature 69 away from the pole 67, thereby rotating the bar sections 40 and 40 through the member 7 4 to actuate the tripping members 18 and 18 of the arms or .units A and B, and thereby actuate their latches 15 and 15 to trip them.

In Fig. 19 there is illustrated one or various modes of use and applications of the cir cuit breaker mechanism hereinbetore described. Gr represents a source of direct current, as a dynamo-electric generator, which is to supply current to the store e battery, electrolytic cells or other translating device E. One of its terminals is connected to the terminal 1 of the arm or breaker unit B, and. through the bridging member 4, terminal 2 and current or series coil 19 of the under-' load or reverse current tripping means to one terminal of the translating device E. The other terminal of the generator G connects with the terminal 48 of the arm or breaker unit A and through its bridging member 49, and terminal 47, with the other terminal of the translating device E, the coil- 7? representing diagrammatically the overload tripping feature of the arm A, In series with the translating device E is shown a resistance 78, which may be short circuited by closing switch 79. This resistance and switch are not essential, however, and may be omitted; The" resistance 78 is used merely under those circumstances where the voltage of the generator G is relativel too high as regards the requirements 0 the translating device l]. The no-voltage coil 65, coils 59 and 58 of the polarity reversal feature and the shunt or voltage coil 21 of the underload feature are connected in series with each other and the resistance R across the terminals of the generator G, through switching mechanism whose movable structure is insulated from, but moves with, the bridging member or movable con= tact d9 of the'arm or breaker unit A. The movable member of this switching mechanism is indicated in Figs. 1 and 19 at 89. lhe member 80 co-acts with the three stationary contacts 81, 82 and 83, of which 81 is connected to one terminal of the generator G, 82 is connected to a point between the coils 21 and 58, and 83 is connected to one terminal of the resistance 1%. in moving from open cricuit position to the closed cirare rotated to such position thatthe latch actuators 18 and 18 of the two units A and B. assume a position permitting the latches 15 and 15* to engage and lock the arms 9 and 9 if they aremoved to circuit closing position. As the circuit closing movement of cuit position indicated in Fig. 19, the mov .the movable contacts 49 and 80 closely apvoltage or shunt coil 21 of the underload mechanism into series with the coils 58, 59 and 65. The coil 65 remains energized, however, to sufficient degree to hold the armature 69 attracted in the position to which it was previously drawn upon engagement of movable contact 80 with stationary contact 82. Simultaneously, the energization of the coils 58 and 59 is of such sense and of such magnitude as to retain the armature structure 54 of the reversal of polarity feature attracted downwardly in opposition to plungers 62.

Assuming that the translating device E is a battery of electrolytic cells employed, for example, for production of oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis, in which case it is of great importance that current shall not be allowed to pass therethrough in wrong direction even for a brief period, lest there be produced at the anodes and cathodes explosive mixtures of oxygen and hydrogen, it will be apparent from the following description of the operation that the mechanism affords protection against accidental or unobserved reversal of polarity of the generator G and other mischances.

The operation is as follows:

Assuming both arms A and B to be in open circuit position, the arm A is first closed. or attempt is made first to close it. As above explained, by first engagement of contacts 81 and 82 by the movable contact member 8), if the generator G is producing voltage of suificient magnitude and in proper sense or direction, the coils 58, 59 and are energized, and to such degree that the armature 69 of the no-voltage magnet is attracted and the armature structure of the polarity reversal feature is attracted in opposition to plungers 62 into contact with or close proximity to the poles of the lower core 57. As the circuit closing movement is completed, the resistance R and coil 21 are brought into circuit with coils 58, 59 and 65, and the arm 9 'is engaged and locked by latch 15".

If, however, it is attempted to close the breaker unit or arm A when the polarity or voltage of the generator has been reversed and is in wrong direction or sense, upon first contact of the movable contact member 80 with contacts 81 and 82 coils 58, 59 and 65 will be energized as before described, but the direction of current through the coils 58 and 59 willbe in reverse direction, with the result that the poles of the core 57 and the plungers 62 will repel the armature 54 of the reversal feature, and simultaneously the poles of the core 56 will attract the armature structure 54, causing it to rotate in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, causing engagement of the member 51 by the member 52, thereby rotating the latch actuators 18 and 18 of both arms A and B in such direction as to press and hold the latches 15 and 15 downwardly, making it impossible to latch either of the arms or breaker units in circuit closing position. Ac-

cordingly, no current of improper or reverse direction can reach and traverse the cells E, and there is so prevented the production, as above described, of undesired mixtures of oxygen and hydrogen.

Upon returning the polarity or sense of voltage of the generator G to normal, however, the arm A is first closed as abovedescribed, and arm B is thereafter closed.

Or in case the voltage of the generator G is too low, or in case the generator G is dead, that is, is inoperative or not producing voltage, upon attemptedclosure of the arm A the no-voltage coil 65 is insufficiently energized or to no degree energized, with the result that the armature 69 is not attracted,

with the result that the latch actuators 18" and 18 assume such position that the latches 15 and 15 are depressed and cannot engage and lock the arms 9 and 9, or either of them.

With the voltage of the generator G normal as to magnitude and direction, and the arm or breaker unit A having been closed, the operator now closes the arm or unit B. As the operating lever 9 of the unit B ap proaches circuit closing position, the pawl 32 rotates in'clockwise direction upon its pivot, as viewed in Fig. 8, and has no effect upon the member 34 and the parts attached to and controlled thereby. As such circuit glosing movement occurs, however, the roller 7", carried by the lever arm 9, engages the cam surface 29 on the cam member 28, causing it to rotate in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, with the result that the member 27 actuates the member 26 to move the armature 23 of the underload magnet system into proximity with the poles 22 which, immediately the coil 19 is energized upon engagement of the terminals 1 and 2 by the bridging member 4, produces sufficient magnetism, as assisted by the shunt coil 21, to hold the armature 23 in attracted position. The fact that the cam member 28 has been raised by the roller 17 allows the latch 15, under the influence of its spring, to engage roller 17 and lock arm 9 in circuit closing position, the latch 15 in such upward movement similarly lifting the latch actuator 18, but such clockwise movement of the latch actuator 18, as viewed in Fig. 9, has no eil'eet through the bar sections 40 and 40 greases upon the tripping mechanism of the arm or unit- A. I

With both arms A and B closed, if there should occur an underload, that is, a diminution of the current through the translating device E to a predetermined degree, or should the direction of current begin toreverse, the degree of excitation effected by the coils 19 and 21 will diminish to such extent that the armature 23 will be released and thrust outwardly by the plungers 25, causing the member 26 to'actuate member '27, causing the member 28 to depress the latch actuator and thereby depress the latch 15 to release the arm 9, causing the breaker B to open circuit. When the breaker arm B is-so tripped by operation of the latch 15 through the latch actuator 18 upon release of the armature 23, the outward movement of the operating lever 9, Figs. 2 and 3, causes the pawl 32 to engage and depress the member 34 and thereby rotate the bar sections 40, and through them the latch actuator 18 of the arm A, with the result that the latch 15 is depressed and the arm A is tripped and moves to open circuit position. During the aforesaid movement or the member 34, the latch actuator 18 is not affected, since it has already been depressed by the release of the armature 23 to such position that the pin 39 is adjacent the bottom of the slot 38 in member 34:.

With both arms A and B in circuit closing position, it the current flowing through the translating device E should exceed a predetermined value, the armature of the overload tripping mechanism of arm A is attracted, causing actuation of the latch 15 through latch actuator 18 to free and trip the arm A; this same movement of th'earmature 45 is simultaneously transmitted through the latch actuator 18*, bar sections 40 and 40, to the ratchet member 34; of the arm 18, causing its counterclockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 3, the upper end of the slot 38 then engaging the pin 39 and causing movement of the latch actuator 18 in like direction, with resultant actuation of the latch 15 in similar direction for release and tripping of the arm B.

Similarly, upon reversal of polarity, the

armature structure 54 moves in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, causing member 52 to engage and actuate member 51 and thereby actuate latch actuator 18, thereby tripping the arm or breaker unit A, and through the bar sections 4:0 and 40 actuating the member 34, which in turn actuates the latch actuator 18 causing actuation of the. latch 15 to trip the breaker unit B. 1

Upon occurrence of reduced voltage or occurrence of no voltage, the armature 69 is released and thrust upwardly by the plunger 71, with the result that the bar sections 40 ing tripping of the breaker unit B.

n Fig. 20 a somewhat difi'erent butl equivalent arrangement is shown. The difference lies mere of the arm B.' In this case, in lieu of the series coil 19 of Fig 19, there is employed the U-shaped magnetizable member 84, which embraces one of the studs or terminafs of the arm B and is accordingl magnetized by the current traversing t e same. In this case the shunt or voltage coil or winding 21 is divided up into four coils, which, however, produce magnetism in assistance to the magnetism produced b magnet 84, their cumulative efiects ing exerted upon an armature such as 23 of Figs. 10-12. In view of the fact that there the 1 y in the underload feature is greater number of coils 21, their total resistanoe is ordinaril sufi iciently high to warrant omission of t e resistance R of Fig. 19; it will be understood, however, that in series with the coils 21, and in relation similar to that indicated in Fig. 19, may be emplo ed an additional resistance.

rom the foregoing description, it will be apparent that it is' impossible to close and latch either arm of the circuit breaker structure in case of prior occurrence of reversal of polarity or in case of low or no voltage and arm B cannot be closed in advance oi arm A. Upon occurrence of reversal of olarit-y after closure of the circuit breaker mechanism it will be tripped; upon occurrence of low or no voltage prior to closure,

neither arm of the mechanism can be closed and latched. 0r upon occurrence of low or no voltage after thebreaker mechanism has been closed and latched, it will be automatically tripped. Upon occurrence of overload or'excess current flow, the circuit breaker mechanism will be tripped. It is further apparent that with the circuit breaker mechanism closed, there is provided a feature, to wit, the underload or reverse current feature, which will cause trippin of the breaker mechanism upon diminution of thethe direction of current through the seriesv excitin feature or winding will be reversed while is e current through the shunt winding will remain the same as before, with the net result that the two windings immediately 0 pose each other, causing instant release 0? the underload armature and instant tripping of the breaker mechanism.

Inasmuch as the coils 21, 58, 59 and 65 are all in series with each other, a break in any one of these coils, or a break in their circuit, will deenergize the no-voltage coil 65, causing the no-voltage ma et to trip the breaker units, if they be c osed, or prevent their closure, if they be open.

The structure whereby the permanent magnet of the system responsive to reversal of polarity is normally held close to the pole of the lower shunt magnet and whereby, due to reduction of resistance of its circuit, that shunt magnet is strongly energized as the arm A is closed, ensures against weakenlng or deenergization of the permanent magnet. In effect, the permanent magnet is sub ec ted upon each closure of arm A to a charglng or restoring magneto-motive-force of great or abnormal magnitude.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that some of the features hereof are disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,353,- 185, September 21, 1920.

What I claim is:

1. Circuit breaker mechanism comprising independently operable switches, a latch for each of them for restraining it in normal position, a latch actuator for each latch, electro-responsive means comprising an armature normally held in attracted position, a cam member connected with said armature and actuated by movement of one of said switches to normal position to move said armature to attracted position. said armature when released actuating said cam member to actuate the latch actuator of said one of said switches to trip it, a member movable independently of said latch actuator and adapted by movement in one direction only to actuate said latch actuator to trip said one of said switches, a mechanical connection from said member to the latch actuator of another of said switches, and electroresponsive means for actuating said latch actuator of said other of said switches and said member for tripping said switches.

2. Circuit breaker mechanism comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, and a magnet system controlling said restraining means in response to reversal of polarity and comprising a pair of shunt magnets having their poles spaced from each other, an armature system disposed between said poles and polarized in a predetermined sense, said shunt magnets, respectively, attracting and repelling said armature system, and a spring holding said armature system approximately mid-way between said poles when said magnets are deenergized, said armature system compressing said spring and approaching one of said poles when said magnets are energized during existence of normal polarity, said spring and said one of said poles repelling said armature system and the other of said poles attracting said armature system upon reversal of polarity.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 27th day of March, 1922.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT. 

